Adjustable drain loop for urine collection system

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a device for maintaining an adjustable loop in the drain tube of a urine collection and/or monitoring system. The clip, band or bands act to maintain the adjustable loop such that the adjustment in size of the loop created in the drain tube varies the effective length of the drain tube. Further disclosed is a method for preventing back pressure from developing in the drain tube of urine collection and/or monitoring system.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to urine collection and/or monitoringsystems and, more particularly, to a device for forming an adjustabledrain tube loop for use with urine collection systems.

2. Background of Related Art

Urine collection and/or monitoring systems are well known and arecommonly used to collect urine from a catheterized patient. Urinecollection systems consist of a catheter operably connected to apatient, a fluid reservoir for collecting the fluid and a drain tubeconnecting the catheter with the reservoir. Typically, urine collectionsystem are employed prior to, during and following many surgicalprocedures, especially where the patient is not ambulatory or is notcoherent enough to negotiate the facilities normally.

It is desirable in urine collection systems to provide a drain tube thatis longer then necessary to connect the catheter with the fluidreservoir. The extra length in the drain tube permits the repositioningof the patient without stressing the catheter and fluid reservoirconnections, an occurrence which can cause great pain for the patient. Apatient may need to be repositioned countless times during a hospitalstay, including when the bed sheets have been soiled and necessitatechanging, when certain tests are performed, and to prevent atrophy ofthe patient's muscles. Drain tubes are manufactured in standard lengthswith sufficient excess tubing to allow for repositioning of the attachedpatient. Fasteners positioned on each end of a standard drain tubesprevents the tubes themselves from being shortened.

The excess length in the drain tube, however, often causes problems withurine flow. Urine meters and fluid reservoirs are generally secured tothe bed frame or bed rail near the patient. The drain tube originates atthe catheter end connected to a patient positioned horizontally in thebed. The drain tube may hang off the edge of the bed and fall below theframe of the bed before returning uphill to empty into the fluidreservoir (FIG. 1). This drain tube configuration forces urine to flowagainst gravity and creates back pressure on the patient's bladder. The4-8″ of urodynamic resting bladder pressure produced by the bladder of asupine patient cannot overcome this back pressure. This back pressurecan restrict urine flow and potentially cause patient discomfort,bladder distension, leakage, etc.

Therefore, it would be beneficial to have a device for forming anadjustable length drain tube for urine collection and/or monitoringsystems such that the length of the tube can be adjusted whilemaintaining the entire length of drain tube above the fluid reservoir.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present disclosure, a clip is provided forforming a selectively adjustable loop in a drain tube. In oneembodiment, the clip includes a base and at least one pair of armsextending from the base. The arms form an inner gripping surfaceconfigured to adjustably retain at least a first section of a drain tubein an adjacent relationship to a second section of the drain tube. Theclip may also include a means for fastening the clip to a bed or bedsheets, e.g., a fastener loop, a safety pin, a secondary clip, etc.

In another embodiment, a device for maintaining an adjustable loop in adrain tube of a urine collection system is disclosed which includes abase defining at least one recess for retaining first and secondsections of a drain tube in an adjacent relationship to one another. Thedevice may include a means for fastening the device to a bed or bedsheets.

The base may define two recesses for slidably retaining the first andsecond sections of the drain tube in adjacent relationship to oneanother.

In another embodiment, a drain tube for use with a urine collectionsystem is provided which includes a tube forming a loop wherein twosections of the tube are in an adjacent relationship to one another anda retaining device configured to adjustably retain the two sections ofthe tube in adjacent relationship to one another. The device is selectedfrom the group consisting of a clip, band, or multiple bands. The devicemay also include a means for fastening the loop to a bed or bed sheets.The means for fastening the loop can be formed integral with theretaining device.

In another embodiment, a method of preventing back pressure from formingin a drain tube of a urine collection and/or monitoring system isprovided which includes the steps of providing a drain tube having anadjustable loop formed therein, and positioning the adjustable loophorizontally above an inlet to the urine collection and/or monitoringsystem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a urine collection system, including a urinecollection device affixed to the frame of a hospital bed and employingthe conventional practice of hanging the tube below the collectionreservoir;

FIG. 2 is perspective view of a urine collection system, including aurine collection device affixed to the frame of a hospital bed and adrain tube configured with a clip constructed in accordance with thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the urine collection system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of one embodiment of a clip constructed inaccordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and5 employed to form an adjustable loop in a drain tube;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6employed to form an adjustable loop in a drain tube, illustrating theprocess of lengthening the effective length of the drain tube.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6employed to form an adjustable loop in a drain tube, illustrating theprocess of shortening the effective length of the drain tube;

FIG. 9 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of a clip constructedin accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side view of another embodiment of a clip constructed inaccordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side view of an embodiment of an adjustable drain tube loopconstructed in accordance with the present;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 wherein theadjustable loop has been completely distended;

FIG. 15 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of an adjustable draintube loop constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a side view of another alternate embodiment of an adjustabledrain tube loop constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a side view of yet another alternate embodiment of anadjustable drain tube loop constructed in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the presently disclosed adjustable drain tube loop for aurine collection system will now be described in detail with referenceto the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical orcorresponding elements in each of the several views.

FIG. 1 illustrates a urine collection system 10 having a drain tube 12and a fluid reservoir, and/or urine meter 16. Drain tube 12 includes acatheter end 13 and a connection end 15. Catheter end 13 of drain tube12 is configured to operably connect with a catheter (not shown)attached to or positioned within a patient. Connection end 15 isconfigured to operably connect to port 17 of fluid reservoir 16. Port 17is positioned on the top of reservoir 16. Fluid reservoir 16 is securedto bed frame 18 by support 19 in a location corresponding to theposition of the patient. As is customary with drain tubes used inassociation with urine collection systems, drain tube 12 is longer thanwould be sufficient to connect a patient positioned horizontally in thebed with fluid reservoir 16. Urine collection system 10 employs theconventional practice of allowing the excess slack 14 a in drain tube 12to fall below the port 17 of fluid reservoir 16. In this configuration,as urine is drained through drain tube 12 into fluid reservoir 16 theurine must travel uphill to empty into fluid reservoir 16 through port17. A back pressure results from the urine having to travel againstgravity in order to empty into reservoir 16. The resulting back pressurecan lead to serious complications including patient discomfort, bladderdistension, and meatal leakage.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, illustrated is urine collection system20 employing an adjustable drain tube loop constructed in accordance thepresent disclosure. Like the conventional urine collection systempractice illustrated in FIG. 1, fluid reservoir, and/or urine meter, 16is suspended from the bed frame 18 by support 19. Unlike theconventional drainage practice of allowing drain tube 12 to fall belowport 17 of fluid reservoir 16, drain tube 12 in urine collection system20 is entirely maintained above port 17 of fluid reservoir 16. Anadjustable loop 14 is formed in drain tube 12 with the configurationbeing maintained by clip 100. The effective length of drain tube 12,that is, the length of drain tube 12 between catheter end 13 andconnection end 15, excluding adjustable loop 14, can be adjusted byvarying the size of adjustable loop 14. Adjustable loop 14 permits theexcess length of drain tube 12 to lay substantially flat on the bed,above port 17 of fluid reservoir 16. In this manner, the entire lengthof drain tube 12 is prevented from falling below entrance port 17 offluid reservoir 16. This configuration alleviates or minimizes the backpressure created in drain tube 12 which occurs when employing theconventional practice of allowing drain tube 12 to hang below entranceport 17 of fluid reservoir 16. Sheet clip 101 is affixed to clip 100 andsecures adjustable loop 14 to the bed.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate one embodiment of the presently disclosedadjustable loop clip shown generally as 100. Clip 100 is constructed asan integrally molded one-piece plastic clip or connector, which can beformed from metal, plastic, or the like. Clip 100 includes base 102,longitudinally opposed arms 104 and 106 extending from base 102, andfastener hoop 110, also extending from base 102. Opposed arms 104, 106are constructed and dimensioned to resiliently engage, grip and holdadjacent sections of drain tube 12 in juxtaposed or adjacentrelationship to one another. Each of the opposed arms 104, 106 extendfrom base 102 in a mirror image relationship to one another to form aninner gripping surface 108. Gripping surface 108 defines recesses A andB configured for receiving different sections of drain tube 12.

Referring now to FIG. 6, initially, adjustable loop 14 is formed usingthe excess length of drain tube 12. By slightly twisting and thenoverlapping two sections of drain tube 12, adjustable loop 14 may beformed in drain tube 12. The resulting adjacent sections of drain tube12 are then inserted, one each, into recesses A, B of clip 100. Theinitial size of loop 14, and therefore, the effective length of draintube 12, can be adjusted prior to inserting the respective section ofdrain tube 12 into recesses A, B of clip 100. In this configuration, alarger loop results in a shortened effective drain tube length, while asmaller loop causes the drain tube to have a longer effective length.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the length of drain tube 12 can beadjusted by varying the dimension of adjustable loop 14 formed in draintube 12. By reducing adjustable loop 14 in size the length of drain tube12 can be increased (FIG. 7). Adjustable loop 14 in drain tube 12 ismade smaller simply by disengaging the sections of drain tube 12 fromwithin recesses A, B of clip 100 and pulling catheter end 13 andconnector end 15 of drain tube 12 longitudinally in opposite directions.The resulting smaller loop formed in drain tube 12 can be maintained byreinserting adjacent sections of drain tube 12 into recesses A, B ofclip 100. Adjustable loop 14 may be made larger by pushing catheter end13 and connector end 15 of drain tube 12 longitudinally towards oneanother and extending the width of adjustable loop 14 (FIG. 8).

In an alternate means of adjusting the effective length of drain tube12, instead of removing clip 100 from drain tube 12 to vary thedimension of loop 14, clip 100 may be configured to allow at least onesection of drain tube 12 to be selectively positionable within at leastone recess A, B. In this manner, neither section of drain tube 12 wouldneed to be disengaged from clip 100 when varying the dimension ofadjustable loop 14.

Clip 100 further includes fastener hoop 110 for assisting in securingloop 14 to a patient's bed or bed sheets. Fastener hoop 110 isintegrally formed with base 102. Fastener hoop 110 may be used incombination with a fastening means, ie. safety pin, string, sheet tackor clip, to secure adjustable loop 14 above the horizontal plane definedby port 17 of fluid reservoir 16. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, sheet clip101 is attached to fastener hoop 110 of clip 100, permitting adjustableloop 14 to be secured to the bed sheet or other object. Sheet clips andother fastening means are well known in the art and it is envisionedthat fastener hoop 110 can be configured to securely engage any suchknown clips. In an alternate embodiment, clip 100 may instead include asheet clip 101 integrally formed with base 102 of clip 100.

Turning now to FIGS. 9 and 10, an alternate embodiment of the presentdisclosure is generally designated as 200. Clip 200 is substantiallysimilar to clip 100 and will only be discussed in detail to the extentnecessary to identify differences in construction and operation.

As seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, clip 200 includes base 202 and longitudinallyopposed arms 204 and 206 extending from base 202. Opposed arms 204, 206are constructed and dimensioned to resiliently engage, grip and holdadjacent sections of drain tube 12 in juxtaposed or adjacentrelationship to one another. Each of the opposed arms 204, 206 extendfrom base 202 in a mirror image relationship to one another to form aninner gripping surface 208. Gripping surface 208 defines recesses A andB configured for receiving sections of drain tube 12. Unlike clip 100,clip 200 does not include a fastener loop for securing drain tube 12 tothe bed or bed sheets. Therefore, an additional fastener may be used inconjunction with drain tube 12 to secure adjustable loop 14 formed draintube 12 to the bed or bed sheets.

Turning now to FIGS. 11 and 12, an alternate embodiment of the presentdisclosure is generally designated as 300. Clip 300 is substantiallysimilar to clip 200 and will only be discussed in detail to the extentnecessary to identify differences in construction and operation.

As seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, clip 300 includes base 302 and opposedgenerally C-shaped arms 304 and 306 that are constructed and dimensionedto resiliently engage, grip and hold adjacent sections of drain tube 12in juxtaposed or adjacent relationship to another. Each of the opposedgenerally C-shaped arms 304, 306 have a pair of opposed flexiblecurvilinear arms in mirror image relationship to one another to form aninner gripping surfaces 308, 310. As with clip 200 illustrated in FIGS.9 and 10, clip 300 does not include a fastener for securing adjustableloop 14 of drain tube 12 to the bed or bed sheets. Therefore, anadditional fastener must be included to secure drain tube 12 to the bedor bed sheets and to prevent adjustable tube 12 from falling below port17 of fluid reservoir 16.

Turning now to FIGS. 13 and 14, an adjustable drain tube loopconstructed in accordance with the present disclosure is generallydesignated as 440. Adjustable drain tube loop 440 is maintained byflexible band 400. Flexible band 400 includes a pair of rings 402, 403and a elastic cord 404 connecting rings 402, 403. Rings 402, 403 aresized to slideably engage drain tube 12 while in a relaxed position(FIG. 13). In the event the effective length of drain tube 12 must beincreased, flexible band 400 permits limited movement while in a relaxedposition. Flexible band 400, however, may be stretched to extend draintube 12 to its original, unlooped length (FIG. 14). In this manner,while elastic cord 404 is stretched to extend drain tube 12, rings 402,403 are also acted upon by the stretching force applied by elastic cord404 and become slightly deformed. This deformation permits rings 402,403 to grip drain tube 12 and prevent flexible band 400 from sliding andreturning to a relaxed position. Once the force applied to stretchelastic cord 404 is remove, adjustable loop 440 returns to drain tube12.

Turning now to FIGS. 15-17, alternate configurations of adjustable draintube loops constructed in accordance with the present disclosure areshown. FIGS. 15-17 include one or more bands, 500 for maintaining anadjustable drain tube loop in drain tube 12. Band or bands 500 may bepositioned around the intersecting section of drain tube 12 in ahorizontal orientation (FIG. 17), in a vertical orientation (FIG. 16),or both in horizontal and vertical orientations (FIG. 15). Band 500 maybe constructed of any material, including plastic, rubber, cloth andmetal. Band 500 may be constructed of a single strand or multiplestrands of material. Band 500 is sized to slideably engage drain tube12. Band 500 may be releasably engageable with drain tube 12. Theeffective length of drain tube 12 can be adjusted by varying the size ofthe adjustable loop formed by band 500 as described above with respectto the alternate embodiments. As with the other embodiments formaintaining the adjustable loop without a fastener loop, the adjustabledrain tube loop shown in FIGS. 15-17 must also include a sheet clip orother fastener for attaching drain tube 12 to the bed or bed sheets. Inan alternate embodiment, band 500 may include a fastening means forattaching drain tube 12 with the bed or bed sheets.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made to theembodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the above description shouldnot be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications ofpreferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision othermodifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.

1. A clip for forming a selectively adjustable loop in a drain tube, theclip comprising: a base; at least one pair of arms extending from thebase, the arms forming an inner gripping surface configured toadjustably retain at least a first section of a drain tube in anadjacent relationship to a second section of the drain tube.
 2. The clipaccording to claim 1, further including a means for fastening the clipto a bed or bed sheets.
 3. A device for maintaining an adjustable loopin a drain tube of a urine collection system, the device comprising: abase defining at least one recess for retaining first and secondsections of a drain tube in an adjacent relationship to one another. 4.The device of claim 3, further including a means for fastening thedevice to a bed or bed sheets.
 5. The device of claim 3, wherein thebase defines two recesses for slidably retaining the first and secondsections of the drain tube in adjacent relationship to one another.
 6. Adrain tube for use with a urine collection system, the drain tubecomprising: a tube forming a loop wherein two sections of the tube arein an adjacent relationship to one another; and a retaining deviceconfigured to adjustably retain the two sections of the tube in adjacentrelationship to one another.
 7. The drain tube of claim 6, wherein theretaining device is selected from the group consisting of a clip, band,or multiple bands.
 8. The drain tube of claim 6, further including ameans for fastening the loop to a bed or bed sheets.
 9. The drain tubeof claim 8, wherein the means for fastening the loop is formed integralwith the retaining device.
 10. A method of preventing back pressure fromforming in a drain tube of a urine collection and/or monitoring system,the method comprising the steps of: providing a drain tube having anadjustable loop formed therein; and positioning the adjustable loophorizontally above an inlet to the urine collection and/or monitoringdevice.